Archibald, Strong out to build on early Track Champions League leads

Katie Archibald and Corbin Strong will try to defend their respective leads when the UCI Track Champions League resumes with the second round in Lithuania on Sunday (AEDT).

Katie Archibald and Corbin Strong lead their respective endurance leagues heading into the second round of the UCI Track Champions League Source: Twitter

WATCH the second round of the UCI Track Champions League from Panevėžys, Lithuania LIVE and FREE on SBS On Demand from 4am (AEDT) Sunday, November 28.

Archibald (Great Britain) and Strong (New Zealand) enter the Cido Arena as the premier endurance riders following the first round, where the Elimination and Scratch Race will be accompanied by the Sprint and Keirin events.

The 27-year-old will likely face stiff competition from Canadian Maggie Coles-Lyster, who produced a perfect performance in the Scratch Race, complete with a successful breakaway to the line.

Strong, meanwhile, dominated his discipline, accompanying a Scratch Race win with a powerful display in the Elimination Race.

It was an unexpected outcome for the 2020 Points Race world champion, but one sprint sensations Harrie Lavreysen (Netherlands) and Emma Hinze (Germany) will attempt to replicate in their own events.

Lavreysen currently holds a four-point lead over German Stefan Botticher in the sprint standings, while Hinze sits two points clear of Olympic champion Kelsey Mitchell.

Sprinter have had to employ different tactics at the Track Champions League thus far, particularly as the early rounds pit three riders against each other instead of two.

Following the conclusion of the event in Panevėžys, riders will then travel to London for the third round on Saturday, December 4.